Well derrick



L. PATTERSON WELL DERRICK April 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17 1953 Q5772; Pazfe/"Jon I/VVEA/TOR,

By fit] g April 17, 1956 2,742,260

L. PATTERSON WELL DERRICK Filed July 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR; fijwm BY 6 ATTOR/VEVJ April 17, 1956 Filed July 17, 1953' L. PATTERSON 2,742,260

WELL DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L uf/zer Palferson INVENTOR.

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w E ja wm ATTOR/VE rs Section Got the derrick is also. open and this is provided for by the improved crown block assembly K from which is suspended an improved traveling block T. The particular construction of the crown block assembly K and the travelingblock T permits stands or sections S-of well pipe of greater length than the height of the derrick W to be handled without bending or distortion of the well pipeso that a direct line of pull or a substantially vertical support is provided at all times for the well pipe P suspended from the derrick.

The well derrick W is formed with four derricklegs or uprights 14, 15, '16 and 17, the upper ends of which are joined together by a water table 18, which is formed in a U shape or similar shape such as a V- shape by two substantially parallel sections 18a and 18b and a central section 18c which is connected therebetween and is substantially perpendicular thereto. The table section 18a is connected to the upper ends of the derrick legs 15 and 16 while the table section 18b is connected to the derrick legs 14 and 17. The central table section 180 is connected to the derrick legs 16 and 17, so that the water table 18 is formed with a substantially unrestricted open area therebetween and an open side between the derrick legs 14 and 15. v

The crown block assembly K is mounted on the water table 18 and includes one or more sheaves 20 rotatably supported in brackets 21 through which the sheave pin 22 extends, whereby one or more of the sheaves 20 are supported on the pin 22. On the other table section 18b thereis mounted one or more sheaves 23 in brackets 24 which support the pins 22 extending therethrough and through the center of the sheaves 23. Preferably, the sheaves 20 are parallel to the sheaves 23 and a space or area which is unrestricted is formed between such sheaves 20 and 23 (Figure 3)which area or space is substantially equal to the open area between the table sections 18a and 18b. The inner support brackets 21 and 24 are preferably connected to a roller 25 which is set back from the central open unrestricted area between the sheaves so as not to interfere with any well pipe passing into that area. This roller 25 serves to balance well pipe as it is being moved from the well derrick to the pipe rack 11, as will be explained.

Below the roller 25 and between. the sets of sheaves 20 and 23, a sheave bracket 27 is connected for the support of one or more sheaves 28 which is substantially perpendicular to the sheaves 20 and 23, this sheave 28 being supported on a sheave pin 29 which extends through the sheave 28 and bracket 27 .in the usual manner. It,

35 mounted for rotation in a bracket 36 and one or b more sheaves 37 mounted ina bracket 38. The brackets 36 and 38 shown as connected at their inner surfaces.

with a connecting bar 40 extending therebetween and offset to the rear thereof (Figure 4) so as to provide av substantially open and unrestricted area between the sheaves 35 and 37. The brackets 36 and 38 have depending extensions 36a and 38a, respectively, which are connected to an elevator body 41 by means of bolts 42 or an equivalent securing means. In some instances the bar 40 may be omitted as the elevator body 41 will serve to maintain the brackets 36 and 38 properly spaced.

A cable 45 having one end thereof wound about a drawworks 46 (Figure 1) extends upwardly from the drawworks around one or more of the sheaves 23 and then extends downwardly through the sheave 35 on thetraveling block T and then passes upwardly over the intermediate block 28 where it is directed downwardly for passing through the sheave 37 and then upwardly over one of the sheaves 20. The cable is led from the sheave 20 to a fixed connection ltiaso as, to form the dead end of the cable 45. Thus, a raising and lowering of the traveling block T is controlled by the paying out and reeling in of the end of the cable 45 connected to the drawworks 46. In some instances, the traveling block T may have more than one of each of the sheaves 35 and 37 and in that event, more than one of each of the sheaves 20 and 23 and an additional sheave at 28 will be utilized.

It will be understoodthat even though only an elevator body 41 has been illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, some type of elevator must berernployed for the handling of the well pipe string P for the addition and removal of the-stands of pipe S therefrom. One type of such construction is shown in Figure 5 wherein the elevator body 41 is formed with. bolt holes 41a through which the bolts 42 extend. The central portion of the body 41 has a bore 41b therethrough which is shaped at its upper end in the form of a bowl 410 for the reception of pipe gripping dogsegments 47 which are pivotally supported from a ring 48 through links 49. A control lever 50 is connected to the ring 48 for the raising and lowering of the dog 47 when such manual manipulation is necessary. The particular type of elevator shown in Figure 5 is known as an automatic elevator since it is constructed so that the dogs 47 ride up and outwardly in the elevator bowl 41c as the elevator is lowered and passes over a collar connecting several sections of the well pipe P, but upon raising of the elevator the dogs 47 contact the lower end of the collars of the well pipe P to support same for the raising or lowering of the well pipe in the derrick.

For the swinging of a stand of pipe S from the well derrick to the pipe rack 11, or vice versa, the light elevator L of the type shown in Figure 6 may be employed. The light elevator has a split ring 52 with the ends 52a thereof spaced from each other a sufiicient distance to readily permit the stand pipe S to pass therethrough for positioning within the split ring 52. The internal surface of the split ring 52 has a plurality of sharp knife edges 52b which are adapted to engage the pipe when the arm 53 connected to the ring 52 is raised by the light line 54 connected thereto. Such line 54 extends upwardly and over the roller25 and has its other end connected to the cathead 55 onthe drawworks 46 for the shifting of the stand of pipe S to be removed or added to the string of pipe P, as will be explained.

Below the crown block assembly K and the water table 18, the derrick legs '14, 15, 16 and 17 are interconnected and made rigid by a plurality of lateral U- shaped braces 57 (Figure 2). These braces 57 are substantially horizontalwhen the derrick is in a vertical position and each of the braces 57 extends from the derrick leg 14 to the leg 17 and from there to the leg 16 and from there to the derrick leg 15, but there is no portion of the brace spanning the area between the legs 14 and 15, whereby that side of the derrick is open or unrestricted. The side braces 58 extending diagonally from one lateral brace 57 to the next may be also employed for additional rigidity and strength, but at no time will any of the braces 57 or 58 extend between the derrick legs 14 and 15.

As previously mentioned, the derrick is constructed with an intermediate leg section B which is adapted to permit the folding of the legs of the derrick in order to move the derrick from a vertical position to a horizontal position, or vice versa. This is particularly desirable if the derrick is to be portable and is mounted upon a truck or trailer bed such as the truck bed 10 illustrated in Figure 1. This derrick folding section B (Figures 2, 7 and 8) includes an upper folding panel formed of leg segments 16a and 17a which, if desired, may be joined by lateral braces 59 (Figure 2) and diagonal braces, not shown. It also includes a lower folding panel which is made up of leg segments16b and 17b and if desired of lateral braces 60 (Figure 2) and diagonal 'braces, not shown. For clarity of illustration, the diagonal braces have been omitted entirely and the lateral braces 59 and 60 have been omitted from Figures 7 and 8. The upper end of the leg segment 16a is pivotally connected to the .rest of the leg 16 by a hinge 62 and the lower end of the leg segment 16b is pivotally connected to the rest of the leg 16 by a hinge 63, with the pivot portions of the hinges 62 and 63 being on the inner side of the leg and leg segments. The leg segments 16a and 1612 are pivotally connected together by a hinge 63 which has its pivot point exteriorally of the leg segments. The leg segments 17a and 17b are connected to the leg 17 in an identical manner with the connection of the segments 16a and 16b to the leg 16 and therefore include a hinge 65 connecting the upper end of the leg segment 17a to the rest of the leg 17 and a hinge 66 connecting the lower end of the leg segment 17!; to the rest of the leg 17 and a hinge 67 connecting the segments 17a and 17b together. The leg 14 is split at 14a to receive a hinge .70 for pivotally connecting the portions of the leg 14 thereabove and therebelow together. Similarly, the leg 15 is split at 15a to form two sections which are pivotally connected together by a hinge 71. These hinges 70 and 71 have their pivotal portions on the inner side of the legs and they are in substantially the same horizontal plane as the hinges 67 and 64, when the derrick is in a vertical position.

When the derrick is in a vertical position, side removable braces 72 and 73 are provided, with the brace 72 extending from the leg 14 to the leg 17 and having bolts 72a extending through the legs 14 and 17 to prevent any inadvertent folding of the derrick structure. Similarly, the brace 73 extends between the derrick legs 15, and 16 and is secured thereto by bolts (not visible); To reinforce the folding section B, while not interfering with the folding thereof, the U-shaped braces 57a and 57b are provided, with the brace 57a being substantially identical with the other braces 57, but being inclined and being connected to the legs 16 and 17 above the hinges a plurality of jacks 76 may be utilized; for example, if

two jacks are used, one could be connected to leg 16 and the other to leg, 17 so that more substantial support for raising and lowering is provided as compared to the use of the one jack 76 as illustrated. Thus, the upper section of the derrick is directly connected to the hydraulic jacks 76. v

When it is desired to fold the derrick from a yertical to a horizontal position, the side removable braces 72 and 73 are detached from the derrick legs and the hydraulic jack or jacks 76 are lowered to lower the upper derrick section C. As the. upper section C is lowered, the upper and lower panels of the folding section B move inwardly by pivoting about their hinges (Figure 9'), and such lowering of the upper section C continues until the upper section C is in a substantially horizontal position (Figure at which time the upper and lower folding leg panels of the folding sections B are. substantially parallel to each other and are folded between the inclined braces 57a and 57!). To support the derrick in its horizontal position, a vertical support 78 mounted on the truck bed 10' may be provided (Figure 1). By reason of the fact that the crown block assembly K and the traveling block T of this derrick are constructed to handle stands of well pipe which are the second exposed tool joint or collar.

of greater i'ength than the height of the derrick, tlr'e dei rick can be constructed of a length such that when .in its folded or horizontal position, it is of a short enough length to meet the requirements of 'State law for trans-Q portationpurposes on the highways. Also, it is of sufifi: cie'ntly' low height when folded to meet the State requirements andto be able to pass under normal underpasses and similar obstructionsl The width of the derrick can also be of sutfic'ient size so as to meet State requirements and it generally will not exceed the width of the trailer or truck bed 10. I

i In order to further reduce the height of the derrick when in a folded position, the pipe rack 11 and the derrickmans stand 80 are also pivoted to the derrick legs so asjto be disposed infasubstantially' horizontal position (Figure 1) when the derrick is so positioned for transportation. The pipe rack 11 includes an outer frame 11a which is pivotally connected at 11b a "11" and which is supported by a pair of cables 81 extending from the upper end of the'derri'ck. Fingers 1111 are provided with the frame 11a so as to form spaces therebetween for the reception of the stands S of pipewhen not in use. To counterbalance the weight of the stands S when racked in pipe rack 11, a guy Wire 83 is usually provided for connection with the forward end of the truck or some other support (Figure 1). The derrickmans stand 80 includes a pivotal connection 84 and all of the links thereof are pivoted so that the stand can; be swung to a horizontalposition as shown in Figure. 1 and may be raised to a position for use as shown in, Figure 2 with a removable brace SS beingbolted thereto to prevent the pivoting during such use. The details of the pipe rack. 11 and the derrickmanfs stand 80 maybe varied so long as the pivoting thereof can be effected.

In the useor operation of the derrick of this invention, the derrick is transported to the well site on the truck bed 10, or a trailer bed or any similar portable device,

and then is moved from its horizontal transportation vertical position, the removable side braces 72' and 73 are bolted in place to prevent folding of the structure during use. 7 7

Assuming that the well pipe is in the well and is being held therein by the usual. slips 93, the. removal] 7 of such pipe from the well wouldthen be eifected. First,

the traveling block T would be lowered until the auto-- matic elevators such as that shown in Figure 5 engage the tool joint or collar of the well pipe P projecting above the slips 93. The slips 93 are then released and by the operation of the drawworks 46, the traveling block T is raised, thereby raising the well pipe P a sufiicient distance to expose another tool joint or collar on the well V pipe P, at which time, the slips 93 are again set and the traveling block T is lowered until the, elevators engage The elevators at the bottom of the traveling block T then engage with such second exposed tool joint or collar and the well pipe is then again raised by" raising the. traveling block T. This continues until twoor more sections of the well pipe which form a stand S are exposed above the slips 93. Because of the open structure of the crown block assembly K, the well pipe can extend considerably above the upper end of the derrick without any necessity for a distortion or bending thereof and whilepermitting a direct pull to be applied to the well pipe for the raising of same. By raising a multijoint stand S, considerable time is saved over the usual system, with this size derrick, of disengaging and handling each joint. individually. It should be noted that inclined guide plates 86,. 87' and 88 are provided below the water table sections 1821,1811 and 18c, respectively, so as to guide the upper end of the well pipe P through the open area of the crown block K. With a stand of pipe thus raised above the slips 93 and with the upper end thereof projecting above the upper end of the crown block assembly K, the light elevator L isattached to the well pipe at the upper end thereof by the derrick man working on the derri'ckmans platform or stand 80. The lower coupling in the vicinity of the traveling block T and above the slips 93 is then threaded out so that the portion of the well pipe P which forms a stand S above the slips 93 is detached from the portion of the well pipe being held by the slips 93 within the well 90. The load of the stand of pipe thus detached isthen carried by the light elevator L with the knife edge SZb thereof gripping the exterior of the pipe to prevent slippage of same and any necessary raising of the pipebeihg effected by the operation of the cathead 55 to effect a moving of the line 54 connected to the light elevator. The derrick man on the platform 80 then swings the released stand of pipe so that the upper end thereof contacts the roller 45 and the lowerend is brought overonto a platform 95. Thereafter, the upper end of V the stand of pipe S is positioned between two of the fingers 11d, of the rack 11. The traveling block T is then in a position to repeat the above sequence of operations in order to raise another'stand S of pipe from the well. Such sequence of steps or operations is continued until all of the well pipe which is desired to be removed from thewell has been removed and positioned as stands S in pipe rack 11 alongside of the derrick.

When it is desired to add the stands of pipe S to the well pipe P in the well, the above sequence of steps or operations is reversed .by swinging a section of stand S from the pipe rack 11 with the light elevator to a position over the well 90 and connecting the same into the well pipe in the well, while the elevators are below the coupling of the pipe joint resting in the slips. The elevators are manually released above this coupling. The traveling block T is raised so that the elevators engage the middle tool joint or coupling and then the traveling block T assumes the full support of the well pipe, and the slips are disengaged. The traveling block T is then lowered until it is substantially in the vicinity of the slips 93. The slips are then set, the elevators are manually released, raised above the middle coupling by the winch, and subsequently raised up to the top joint in the stand to engage the top coupling in stand S. The traveling block T again assumes the full support of the well pipe, the slips are disengaged,-the traveling block T is lowered again to' the vicinity of the slips 93, slips are set, and another stand of pipe S is added to the well pipe string P in the well, in the same manner.

From the foregoing, it is believed evident that the improved crown block assembly and the improved traveling blockare so constructedthat the upper end of the derrick is open so that lengths of well pipe can be handled therein which are greater in length than the height of the derrick structure. The open side of the derrick permits the pipe to be racked along side of the derrick and is particularly advantageous in its use with the open crown block assembly. it is also believed evident that the folding structure of the legs of the derrick permits the derrick to be folded from a vertical position to a horizontal position for transportation with a single lowering movement and with relative ease and simplicity. By reason of the folding feature of the derrick of this invention and the open crown block assembly of this invention, the derrick is especially suitable for use as a portable derrick, because it can handle lengths of pipe substantially equal to the lengths of pipe normally handled by taller portable derricks and fixed or permanent derricks, while at the same time the length of the derrick when in a horizontal position can be short enough to meet the requirements of State law for transportation of same.

I The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and material, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction can be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: y

l. A well derrick adapted to handle'lengths of pipe of greater length than the height of said derrick, comprising four derrick legs having braces connecting said legs to form a four-sided derrick, said braces joining said legs on only three of the four sides leaving an open side on the derrick through which well pipe can be passed to and from the derrick, asubstantially U-shaped water table secured on the upper ends of the derrick legs with the open portion of thesubstantially U-shaped water table being on the same side of the derrick as said open side, a crown block assembly having a side sheave mounted on each of the two parallel sections of the substantially U-shaped water table with an open area therebetween of substan tially the same shape and size as the open area of said U-shaped water table, each of said side sheaves of said crown block assembly being mounted on stub shafts which terminate outside of said open area of said water table, and said crown block assembly also including a cross sheave mounted on the rear or closed end of the water table substantially perpendicular to said parallel sections of the water table and rearwardly of said open area of the water table to enable a support line to be passed over said cross sheave from one of the side sheaves to the other of the side sheaves without passing through or obstructing said open area of said open side of the water table, whereby a well pipe can be passed upwardly through the open area of said U-shaped water table and the open area between said sheaves without distortion or bending of the pipe.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including a traveling block suspended by the support line from said crown block assembly and having a set of two or more sheaves connected together with an open area therebetween of substantially the same size and shape as said open area in said water. table.

3. A well derrick including, a structural framework having a central unobstructed passage extending throughout its length which passage is aligned with the well bore over which the derrick is disposed, a crown block assembly at the upper end of the derrick having an opening therethrough in alignment with the central passage, a travelling block assembly adapted to be movably suspended from the crown block assembly and adapted to traverse the central unobstructed passage, said travelling block assembly having a central opening therethrough which is in alignment with the central passage, whereby a. Well pipebeing inserted within or removed from the well bore may extend within the central passageway and through both the travelling block and the crown block assemblies.

4. A well derrick as set forth in claim 3, wherein one side of the structural framework of the derrick is open to communicate with the central unobstructed passage to facilitate the insertion and removal of pipe into and from said passage. n

5. A well derrick as set forth in claim 3, together with means secured to the travelling block assembly for engaging a well pipe extending through said assembly to raise and lower said pipe within the well bore.

6. A well derrick as set forth in claim 3, wherein the travelling block assembly comprises a pair of sheaves which are spaced from each other on opposite sides of the central unobstructed passage, and means connecting the travelling block sheaves to each other with said connecting means having a central opening aligned with the central passage and also including a coupling device for connecting the travelling block assembly to a well pipe, whereby said pipe may be suspended from the travelling block assembly.

7. A Well derrick including, a structural framework having a central unobstructed passage extending through- 7 out its length, a crown block assembly comprising at least one sheave at the upper end of the derrick, means for mounting said sheave at one side of the unobstructed passage, said mounting means terminating outside of said which passes over the' crown block sheave, and around the travelling block sheaves, said travelling block sheaves being spaced from each other and located out of alignment with the central unobstructed passage, whereby a well pipe may extend upwardly within the central pas sage and through both the travelling block and the crown block.

8. A well derrick including, a structural framework having acentral unobstructed passage extending throughout its length, a'crown block assembly comprising a pair of side sheaves spaced from each other on opposite sides of said passage, a traveling block assembly, including a pair of sheaves which are located on opposite sides of said central passage, an additional sheave mounted at the upper end of the derrick as part of the crown block assembly and disposed substantially perpendicular to the sheaves of the traveling block and located at one side of the unobstructed'passage, a cable threaded over one of the crown block side sheaves, over one of the traveling block sheaves, thence around said additional sheave, thence over another of the traveling block sheaves, and thence over the other side of the crown block sheave, whereby the cable suspends the traveling block assembly and permits it to be raised and lowered within the central unobstructed passage and whereby said additional sheave crosses said cable from one side of said passage to the other without obstructing said passage.

, 9. A well derrick as set forth in claim 8, together with means'connected with the traveling block sheaves for connecting the traveling block assembly with a well pipe extending through the central passage, whereby said traveling block may be utilized to raise and lower said well pipe.

10. A well derrick including, astructural framework having a central unobstructed passage extending throughout its length and an open side through which a well pipe can be laterally moved, a crown block assembly comprising a pair of side sheaves spaced from each other on opposite sides of said passage, means mounting said side sheaves on said framework, said mounting means terminatingoutside of said central unobstructed passage whereby the area between said'side sheaves is unobstructed, a traveling block assembly including a pair of sheaves which are located on opposite sides of said central passage, an

additional sheave mounted at the upper end of the derrick as part of the crown block assembly and disposed substantially perpendicular to the side sheaves of the crown block assembly and located at one side of the unobstructed passage and on the closed side of the derrick framework opposite to said open side for guiding and suspending a support line 'across from one side sheave to the other side sheave without obstructing said passage or said open side, a support line extending over the crown block side sheaves and said additional sheave and extending downwardly 1 therefrom around said traveling block sheaves ,for suspending the traveling block assembly from said crown block assembly'for raising and lowering same within the central unobstructed passage.

, References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

